Caught by Surprise

By Greg Smith

I am a 62 year old retired lawyer turned photographer. I have a complicated medical situation. I have taken one immunosuppressant or another for my reactive arthritis for almost 25 years. Although my arthritis has been well controlled, I am susceptible to infections due to my suppressed immune system.

I live in Albuquerque. I have family in Oklahoma. I frequently go to Oklahoma to hunt deer before spending Thanksgiving with my family. It is about a nine hour drive to where I hunt and another three hours after that to where my family is. Before I left on the trip, I felt fine……

At about two and one half hours, I pulled in for a bathroom break and to get more coffee. By the time I got back in my truck, I was shivering. A friend was travelling with me in a separate truck. As we went further, I felt worse and worse (I am confident I had a very high fever) and my right leg below the knee was swelling. Ultimately, I had to stop and nap twice before we got to the ranch where we were staying. During the drive, I made phone calls to my wife, my adult daughter and my surgeon brother.

All three suggested that since my immune system was very suppressed I should seek medical attention. Based on the intellect-robbing fever and my general stubbornness, I decided to wait until the next day. After sleeping 14 hours, I felt better and was not sure I needed to go to the urgent care. The second evening, my hunting partners asked to see my leg. It was bright red and swollen from the knee down and had red streaks running up to the lymph nodes in my groin. One of my friends convinced me that he should take me to the emergency room at the next small town. We arrived an hour and a half later.

The nurse examined me and called the doctor to come in. I had a fever of 103 degrees. After a very limited discussion, I was diagnosed with cellulitis that was tending toward sepsis, and admitted to the twelve bed hospital. I stayed three days and was given considerable amounts of IV antibiotics. I knew no one in the town. My hunting partners visited for a few minutes each day. I received very good care.

I had plenty of time to be rather scared. What if I had not gotten to the hospital when I did? What if I had had an accident because I felt so bad? What if the antibiotics did not work? I really wanted out of the hospital. I suspect I convinced them to let me go before I was ready to be discharged. They recommended that someone drive me to my father’s house three hours away.  The normally three hour drive took me five hours due to my need to stop, elevate my leg, and rest. That drive aggravated the infection. I stayed with my eighty-nine year old father for three days and did improve. I decided I had to get back to Albuquerque. That Saturday I drove three hours to my sister in law's house in Oklahoma City where I spent the night, intending to drive to Albuquerque the following day.

I had scheduled an appointment with my rheumatologist for that following Tuesday.  A friend offered to fly into Oklahoma City on Monday and drive me back. I decided I needed to be back one day earlier and drove myself for ten hours on Sunday. It was not a pleasant drive at all. Due to an illness, I did not get to see my rheumatologist for two more weeks. I mostly spent three weeks lying in bed or in a recliner due to the considerable swelling and persistent pain. Once I saw my rheumatologist, he correctly determined that I was having a major arthritic flare and put me on oral steroids. I got much better by the next day and I continue to improve. I look forward to returning to my regular weekly immunosuppressant.

Through this whole episode, I think I have gained some clarity about several things:

I could die any day. Things that can kill you can happen very quickly. I will prioritize my living accordingly;

Fever makes me stupid. I now carry a thermometer and Tylenol with me. The thermometer to know I am getting a fever and the Tylenol to reduce the fever;

I will listen to my family when they all tell me that I need medical treatment;

When the doctors tell me I need help, I will find a way to get help;

When friends and family offer help, I will accept help the way they can give it;

I try to help family and friends whenever I can. It is selfish and stubborn to rob them of the opportunity to help me when I need it; and

Finally, gratitude for all my blessings can always chase away any tendency toward self-pity brought on by life’s challenges.